Tag Archives: Purpose

I think my fascination of Juneteenth has always been the fact that we are alive and well to celebrate this infamous holiday. We made it. Our ancestors lived through slavery. And if it wasn’t for their persistence and high spirits, we wouldn’t be able to see this day and build each year…

So there’s something to think about in this small victory for ex-slaves. How did they manage to live through this experience? And furthermore, what can we do today to exemplify the strength and vigor that they had? Of course there are many answers to these questions, but I want to look at something very specific: purpose.

During slavery, it was clear that slaves served a higher master than White folk. This is not even to get too much into religion or anything, but they knew what there purpose was and for most of them, it was being able to get through, get out, and tell their stories. Because of these purposes, Black people today are still story-telling, maintaining culture, and living life. But we are lacking in something, and its definitely purpose.

Do you honestly think your daily life coincides with your intended purpose? Are your talents and qualities, as a human, as descendants of this great ancestors, are actively living in your everyday lives?

Every day we do things that benefit our current state but doesn’t not replenish our souls nor purpose. We work full time jobs to make a decent living and go to school to get degrees, but do we push ourselves to ultimately make us happy? Are our natural talents and “feel goods” being worked just as hard? ABSOLUTELY NOT.

It’s cool to be great workers for the jobs that you are currently working, and of course it’s great to be awesome scholars, but imagine if you invested that same energy in fulfilling your own purpose. Think about how free and happy your life would be. If anything, we owe it to our ancestors who built this country, and were still devoted some of their time to ensure that their energy was not fully into doing the works of their masters. Live your OWN life and serve your own purpose. Now THAT’S freedom.

Use this day to reflect on your energies and how you can properly distribute them. What is you purpose? What are you going to do to make sure that you live through it everyday?

Upon hearing the singing of a bird,Maybe the question is the purpose.
The questions that crowd my mind, begging for my attention.
Perhaps my purpose is not
in answering them,
but living them out.
Here Is one:
Why do birds
sing?
I have been struggling against this wind.

Perhaps, it is that
they never cease to sing.

Neither rain nor night nor snow
Can keep them silent.
It is a brave species that will stand against the Night and
sing a song.
Perhaps,
a bird knows there is glory in his singing.

Glory starts small.
It grows, like an ocean wave that God braids. And we are all stringed along like hairs in his palm. Glory starts small, pebble by pebble are the questions we are patient enough to live,
in a world that demands
answers.
We breathe the questions unanswered. We wear a glory unseen. Then it will be us who sing the song. Like the bird who knows true glory, we will give true glory.

“To make our collective vocation the building and developing of our community in order to restore our people to their traditional greatness.”

Day five of Kwanzaa focuses specifically on purpose, rather the reason for your existence. We can look at Nia in two forms, individualistic and collectivistic. To understand your self-purpose first, can help you understand your purpose in the community. Each person plays a vital role in the building and shaping form to the community and not understanding your own purpose can be detrimental to your future.

To begin, we should all search for our purpose on Earth. Whether it is writing, reading, teaching, leading, caring, etc. This role should continue to be the overarching theme in our everyday lives. Whether it is finding mentors in the field, reading to become a better person, or striving for credentials to make you more knowledgeable, being a better you is ultimately the principle of purpose. Finding your true meaning and working towards it.

Once your purpose is revealed, it is important to help others find theres. This includes community service, helping the youth, and even helping your peers. Not only are you fulfilling your purpose, but helping others allows them to continue their path of purpose as well. Like a domino effect!

AfroMadu challenges you to find your purpose on the fifth day of Kwanzaa. It is time to sit down and critically asses your life long goals and your purpose in life. What a great day to close up 2013!